As the nights draw in and the weather turns cold in the northern hemisphere, Radical racers from far and wide headed for sunshine in the United Arab Emirates for Round 1 of the 2025-26 Gulf Radical Cup. With 400 minutes of track time available on one of the world’s most iconic Formula 1 race circuits the Gulf Radical Cup has become the go-to winter series for enthusiast drivers.
Radical’s popular ‘Race the World’ initiative was highlighted by a number of visiting drivers and teams who compete in other Radical series in Europe, USA and Asia. The event also attracted some interesting newcomers to the series, including UAE karting champion Harry Hannam, Austrian Jorden Dolischka and Hungarian Lena Galyo from the Racing Women initiative, Historic Grand Prix racer Stephen Shanly and Alain Alfonsi. Was there anyone here able to give the local champions a run for their money? After official testing on the Friday, it was clear this was indeed the case as both Hannam and Dolischka were able to run with the best of them.
Saturday morning qualifying put Bukhantsov and Hannam on the front row of the grid for the start of the first Sprint Race. Dolischka, who qualified 5th, had trouble restarting her car for the green flag sighting lap, relegating her to the back of a 17-car grid.
The live-stream cameras rightly focused on the battle at the front, where Hannam remained on the tail of Bukhantsov. They would finish 1-2, with Novichkov and Mughal scrapping for third place on the podium. As Novichkov claimed P3, spectators were amazed to see Racing Women star driver Dolischka make her way past 11 drivers to finish in P6. On the National Podium Amir Feyzulin took a well deserved victory.
The second Sprint Race was a nail-biter, with Hannam now even more determined that he could beat former GRC Champion Bukhantsov, and Dolischka determined to make the best of her second row start next to Mughal. Sure enough, it all kicked off as drivers were now much better acquainted with the circuit, their tyres and cars on this challenging 5,281-metre-high speed circuit.
At the rolling start, Bukhantsov and Hannam went through turn 1 side by side with Dolischka in P3. Bukhantsov managed to hold the line down to turn 5, and Mughal managed to slide down the inside at turn 6 to regain his P3 starting spot. Novichkov settled into P5, closely followed by Lowe, Feyzulin, and Chachava.
Bukhantsov appeared comfortable with Hannam remaining less than a second behind, but on lap 7, as they came to the last corner, Hannam made his move, braking late and sending it down the inside to grab the lead - and Bukhantsov spun, coming to a rest in the middle of the circuit. He rejoined, but halfway down the pack, only to retire the following lap, leaving Hannam an easy ride to take the chequered flag. This gave Mughal P2 and Jordan Dolischka P3. Andy Lowe can out on top in the National Class to take a victory ahead of Feyzulin and Chachava.
Sunday morning quali saw Hannam getting the better of Bukhantsov to take pole position for the upcoming 45-minute enduro race with Mughal on P3 next to Dolischka again on the second row.
As the red lights went out, it was Bukhantsov, so he got into an early lead, with Hannam and Mughal nose to tail behind. But further down the field, Alfonsi was making a move into turn 6, but misjudged his braking and connected with the rear of Chachava, taking them both out of the race, but also forcing out the safety car.
After a quick clear-up, racing was back on and it was close at the front. Both Bukhantsov and Hannam were able to open a small gap ahead of Mughal in third, while there was a small gap behind Mughal to the battle for 4th between Novichkov and Dolishka. Before you knew it, 19 minutes of racing have gone and the pitstop window opened. Mughal was the first of the leaders to pit, making a perfect 45-second stop. Next lap, Hannam and Bukhantsov pitted together.
As they ran nose to tail along the pit lane, it was Hannam’s pit box that came up first, only 40 metres behind that of Bukhantsov. Both made a great getaway, with Bukhantsov just keeping his lead.
However, two laps later, a message from Race Control - “10 Second Penalty for Speeding in the pit lane Number 63”. In the hurry to get out ahead of Hannam, Bukhantsov misjudged this speed and just exceeded the 60KPH limit. This meant that for the rest of the race, all Hannam had to do was sit behind and take the advantage at the end, and that’s exactly what he did. Mughal was in third, but was not able to keep his gap to the leader under 10 seconds to also jump ahead, but settled for a well-raced 3rd place. In the National class it was a race long battle between Shanly, Lowe and Feyzulin. In the end it was Feyzulin across the line first, but after series of track limit penalties it placed the victory in the hands of Shanly, followed by Lowe and Feyzulin in third.
However further drama was left to unfold. In a cruel turn, and after the podium presentation was complete, Hannam’s car failed the ride height check on a small part of the front diffuser, but this meant instant disqualification. Promoting Bukhantsov back to the win, Mughal up to second, and Novichkov to third.
This season sees one of the most competitive so far, with the first 12 drivers being covered by only 1 second in qualifying on the long Yas GP circuit, showing how good the pace will be this year.
